Hibs midfielder Alex Gogic: It would be an honour to be called up by Cyprus

Hibees’ enforcer bidding to follow in father’s footsteps
Hibs midfielder Alex Gogic thwarts a Dundee United attack.Hibs midfielder Alex Gogic thwarts a Dundee United attack.
Hibs midfielder Alex Gogic thwarts a Dundee United attack.

A lot has been said about Hibs’ shaven-headed, midfield enforcer Alex Gogic since he arrived at the club from Hamilton Accies this summer.

His head coach, Jack Ross, has singled him out for praise and hailed the way he allows other players to do their thing, while his team-mates are revelling in the security he gives them. His role is straightforward: sit in front of the defence, keep his passes simple and act as a guard, the first point of contact for any unwanted visitors into Hibs territory. So far, he has performed the role impeccably.

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Such has been the 26-year-old’s impact on the Hibs team, Gogic is in line to be called into the Cyprus squad for the first time. He has won caps at under-21 level when he was a trainee at Swansea, but that was five years ago and since then, contact from the Mediterranean island has been minimal. However, Cyprus have a new manager in Belgian Johan Walem, and he’s been watching Gogic with interest since his switch to Easter Road.

The smart money would be on Gogic boarding a flight back to his homeland at the start of September to take part in their two Nations League ties at home to Montenegro and Azerbaijan. Cyprus are not blessed with household names and lost twice to Scotland last year. They are spirited and competitive though, and Gogic would fit right in and enhance their playing pool.

"There is a new Cyprus manager and fingers crossed, there is some good news,” Gogic said in the wake of Hibs' 1-0 victory over Dundee United as the Capital club maintained their 100 per cent record in the Premiership. “It would be an honour. I've never been called up by the first team. The first year [in Scotland] I didn't play much and the second year, I did my ACL. And last year ... well, I didn't get a call-up! I think for every player to play for their national team, to represent their team is an honour."

If Gogic does get the call and represents the island nation, he will be following in the footsteps of his father Sinisa, who was Cyprus’ main striker between 1995 and 1999.

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Sinisa Gogic is a bit of a Cypriot legend with eight goals in 37 appearances. He was a prolific goalscorer for Anorthosis Famagusta in the mid-1990s, helping them into the Champions League, where they once faced Rangers. He won a move to Greek club Olympiacos on the back of those exploits and claimed three Greek championship titles.

"He would be very proud, especially for me to follow his steps and play for the national team,” said Alex. “He was a striker, different role, scoring goals, but if I can help them not concede then I'll be happy."

Keeping the ball away from his own goal is something Gogic was brought to Hibs to do. Head coach Jack Ross identified him early on as the man to add muscle to a defensively malnourished midfield that was overrun at times last season.

"The manager said that he looked around and he said that we are missing that aggressiveness in the midfield,” explained Gogic when recalling his first talks with Ross. “He just said, 'we want you and we want you to do what you do at Hamilton’.

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"Obviously attacking-wise, Hibs were amazing, but I think to counter-attack, they were open, so I think we have that balance now, especially with the defence. Like you saw against Dundee United, they were amazing, heading everything. I'll do as much as I can do to protect them in front."

The shield he provides is definitely appreciated by his team-mates. Gogic is too much of a hard-man to blush but when asked about the platitudes from his dressing-room, he couldn’t hide his smile and added: “Obviously it's nice words. It's nice to hear from the fellow team-mates and the staff, when they appreciate what you do. I'll just do what I do best, I guess. I'm enjoying it."